NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The Coast Guard has burned off oil that spilled last week in a marsh about 42 miles (more than 65 kilometers) from New Orleans.
Petty Officer John Michelli says the oil was set afire about 8:45 a.m. Wednesday and had burned itself out by 1 p.m.
He says that first, a boat was driven around the area to create a firebreak by temporarily bending marsh plants down into the water.
People were interested in these podcasts
The Coast Guard says about 800 to 1,000 gallons (3028 to 3785 liters) of oil spilled last week from a pipeline owned by Time Energy LLC at Cox Bay in Plaquemines Parish.
Officials say the spill doesn’t appear to have hurt wildlife, and federal agencies agreed that a controlled burn was the best way to handle it.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.